Presidential decisions for war : Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf / Gary R. Hess.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hess, Gary R.

Series:

American moment

The American moment

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Intervention (International law).

History.

Military policy.

International relations.

Decision making.

United States--Foreign relations--1945-1989--Decision making--Case studies.

United States.

United States--Foreign relations--1989-1993--Decision making--Case studies.

Presidents--United States--History--20th century.

Presidents.

Cold War.

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972.

Truman, Harry S.

Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.

Johnson, Lyndon B.

Bush, George, 1924-2018.

Bush, George.

United States--Military policy--20th century--Case studies.

Intervention (International law)--History--20th century--Case studies.

Genre:

Case studies.

Physical Description:

xiv, 262 pages : maps ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.

Summary:

In 1950, Americans expected that the United States would wage another major war in the near future. Instead, over the course of the next half-century, they fought limited wars against minor powers: North Korea, North Vietnam and Iraq. This is an exploration of the ways in which Presidents Truman, Johnson and Bush took America into these wars. The author recreates the unfolding crises in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, explaining why the presidents and their advisers concluded that the use of military power was ultimately necessary to uphold US security. The decisions for war are then evaluated in terms of how effectively the president assessed US interests, explored alternatives to war, adhered to constitutional processes, and built congressional, popular, and international support.

Contents:

Introduction: Presidential Leadership and International Crises 1

1 Truman and the Korean Crisis: "We can't let the U.N. down" 8

2 Truman as Commander in Chief: Decision by Indecision 41

3 Johnson and the Vietnam Crisis: "America keeps her word" 75

4 Johnson as Commander in Chief: The Strategy of Wishful Thinking 113

5 Bush and the Persian Gulf Crisis: "This aggression will not stand" 153

6 Bush as Commander in Chief: The Imperatives of Coalition Warfare 199

Conclusion: Three Presidents and Their Wars 221.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [231]-255) and index.

ISBN:

0801865158

0801865166

OCLC:

43859348